UN remembers victims of Baghdad, Abuja UN building bombings

Victims of the UN building bombings in Baghdad, Abuja and others cities around the world have been remembered by the United Nations to commemorate the 2018 World Humanitarian Day.

Remembering 22 colleagues killed by the “horrific terrorist attack” on the UN headquarters in Baghdad 15 years ago, Secretary-General António Guterres called on all staff to pay tribute to the fallen by “continuing their mission,” and going to “dangerous places with the aim of making them safer”.

In a wreath-laying ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York, Guterres reminded the people of the UN core commitment to stand “with those who are suffering, to bring them the relief they need”.

The UN chief said the attack, which was the first time the UN was deliberately targeted on a massive scale, “was traumatising for the whole organisation, and we learned some very difficult lessons”.

“Before and since that day, United Nations’ staff have been targeted by those who would like to weaken us and make us afraid to do our jobs. From Algiers to Kabul to Mogadishu, Abuja and beyond, terrorists have attempted to silence and to banish us,” Guterres said.

The Abuja UN building was attacked with a car bomb on Aug. 26, 2011. Twenty one people were killed and 60 wounded. Boko Haram claimed responsibility.

The car broke through two security barriers, and its driver detonated the bomb after crashing it into the reception area, causing devastation to the building’s lower floors.

In September 2011, the Nigerian Department of State Services alleged that Mamman Nur was the mastermind behind the attack and offered a 26 million naira bounty, while four men appeared in an Abuja magistrates’ court charged with organising the bombing.

After observing a minute’s silence, Guterres said the fallen UN staff had “made the ultimate sacrifice for the values and the Charter of the UN.